We recently connected with Kerry Constantino and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kerry, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about cost-management? Growing a business is always exciting, but often businesses run into issues when costs grow faster than revenue – have you experienced such an episode? Any advice for other operators around how to keep costs in line?

Photography can be incredibly expensive, even just starting out. It is sometimes really hard to know what equipment will be the “right” equipment. Things like lenses, camera bodies, lighting gear – none of it is cheap and there is a lot of pressure to work with the latest technology. It seems like there is a constant churn of what is the newest, hottest gear to have. Sometimes with price tags in the thousands for just one lens. It is so easy to get under water with purchasing equipment, some of which you may only use occasionally.

Some of the best advice I received when starting out was, “It isn’t the knives that make the meal, it’s the chef.” Meaning, the skill of the photographer is what makes a beautiful image. You can have the shiniest brand new camera in the world, but if you don’t know how to use it, it doesn’t matter.

Find gear that is within your budget and MAKE IT WORK. Practice working with what you have until you can afford new equipment. Rent lenses to see how they work for you before buying, there are quite a few reputable rental companies online, and you may even have a camera shop in your area that rents gear. Learn as much as you can from photographers that you admire and ask them what gear they suggest getting.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began photography as a hobby around 2007. I was purely interested in using 35mm film and old cameras. For years, everywhere I went I brought a camera with. It was just for me and really just for fun for years. After a while, though, friends, family, and acquaintances started asking me if I could take photos for them and I was always like, “no, no, I’m not a real photographer.” I started thinking that perhaps, if I learned more I could maybe do photography on the side, so I took a class at the community college, and I absolutely fell in love. I was still only using 35mm film and antique cameras but the fear that I had started to subside. While I was studying, I told my teacher that people had been asking me to photograph them and that I kept saying no, and he said, “Kerry, say yes next time. You absolutely have to say yes.” So I did, I photographed my first courthouse wedding a few months later and I’ve been working ever since.

One of the things that I’m most proud of is growing my business back from the brink of closing in 2020. I was actually drafting an email letting my client base know that I was going to shutter the business, and just go back to having photography as a hobby, when an inquiry came into my inbox. Then, a week later I won a grant to keep my business afloat for another year. It has been a slow climb, and there are a lot of things that look really different for me, but it is so much better than I ever imagined it would be.

Being an artist run business and being in charge of everything can be such a challenge, I firmly believe that if I can do this, anyone can. You just have to be willing to learn new things and grow from mistakes.

The main thing I want potential clients/followers/and fans to know is that I treat each client experience as if I am cultivating a relationship with them that will hopefully last. I am not just a service provider, if I’m documenting one of the biggest days of someone’s life, or collaborating to make images that launch their business, or spending time with their family, you’d better believe it’s more than just a transaction.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth above all else. For me this means being prepared and thoughtful with every client interaction and always being true to my creative instincts and impulses. People have so many incredible photographers to choose from, creating a wonderful experience and exceeding expectations is what will help me grow my client base.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing the places that my photos go, whether in print, in people’s homes, or widely circulated in advertisements and campaigns. To make something that goes on to have its own journey beyond me is so incredible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kerryconstantino.com
• Instagram: @kerry_constantino_photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerryconstantinophotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-constantino-698b85233/

Image Credits
These are all samples of some of my favorite sessions. Photo credit: Kerry Constantino